International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2014; 1 (6): 22-30

An ethno botanical survey of medicinal ISSN 2321-2187 IJHM 2014; 1 (6): 22-30 in Sillalai, Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Received: 09-11-2013 Accepted: 26-12-2013 Lanka

Pholtan Rajeev Sebastian Rajamanoharan Pholtan Rajeev Sebastian Rajamanoharan B.S.M.S (Hons.) (SL) Abstract Unit of Siddha Medicine, University An ethno botanical survey was undertaken to record information on medicinal plants from traditional of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. medical practitioners (TMP's) in Sillalai, Jaffna and to identify the medicinal plants used for treating Email: [email protected] diseases. TMP's who were the main informants were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended conversations. Field trips were made to the sites where TMP's harvest plants. The survey identified and recorded 300 plants species from 27 families, used for treating diseases in Sillalai, Jaffna. The Legominacaea was the most represented plant family while medicinal plants used. The leaf was the most commonly used plant part while concoction and decoction were the most common method of traditional drug preparation. Most medicinal plants (52.7%) are harvested from the wild and commonly available, 27.3% of medicinal plants were cultivated selected areas, 20% rarely present and 0.3% identified first time in Sri Lanka. Knowledge of the use of plants as medicines remains mostly with the older generation with few youth showing an interest. First identified plant was confirmed by a taxonomist. A huge number of plants species are used for treating different diseases in Sillalai, Jaffna. The conventional ethno medicinal plants were mostly used for fever, dysentery, skin diseases, poison bites, wounds, piles, Diabetes Mellitus and rheumatism.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, traditional healers, chemical constituents.

1. Introduction Human and Animals live in equilibrium with the natural plants surrounding them, using these plants as sources of food and intuitively or through years of trials and error, as medicine. Traditional medicine refers to health practices, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plants, animals and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being [1, 2, 27, 43]. According to the WHO, about 80% of the population of the world depends on traditional medicine, mostly herbal remedies, for their primary health care needs [3, 24]. A medicinal plant is any plant, which in one or more of its organs contains active ingredients which can be used for therapeutic purposes or contain foundation compounds that can be used for the synthesis of useful drugs [36]. The absence or inaccessibility of modern healthcare services, affordability, and cultural acceptance under certain circumstances, effectiveness than their modern counterparts has caused a large percentage of the population to rely mostly on plant based traditional medicines for their primary health care needs. These factors and a growing interest in the use of natural products and folk medicine have resulted to an increase in the demand for medicinal plants [42]. This increase in demand puts a threat on natural resources. Knowledge on the use of medicinal plants is enormous but if this is not rapidly researched and recorded, indications are that it will be lost with succeeding generations [17]. Medicinal plant is defined as any substance with one or more of its organ containing substances Correspondence: that can be used for therapeutic purposes or which can be used as precursors for the synthesis S.R.P. Rajeev [37, 38] Unit of Siddha Medicine, University of antimicrobial drugs . It is estimated that there are about 250,000 – 500,000 species of [4] of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. plants on earth , of which a relatively small percentage (1-10%) of these are used for Email: [email protected] ~ 22 ~ International Journal of Herbal Medicine

food by humans and animals. It is possible that more serve 2. Materials and methods medicinal purposes [23] of which a relatively small percentage (1- 2.1 Study site: he study was carried out in Sillalai, Jaffna, located 10%) of these are used for food by humans and animals. It is in the place is situated in Northern Province, Sri Lanka, its possible that more serve medicinal purposes [23]. Medicinal plants geographical coordinates are 9°47'0" North latitude and 79°57'0" contain numerous biologically active compounds such as East longitude and its original name (with diacritics) is Sillalai. It carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, fats and oils, minerals, vitamins, is distanced approximately 16 km from Jaffna and 2 km from alkaloids, quinones, terpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, sterols, Pandateruppu. It is bounded on the North by Mathagal, on the East simple phenolic glycosides, tannins, saponins, polyphenols, to by Pandateruppu, on the South by Chulipuram and on the West by mention a few which have medicinal activities. part of the Mathagal coasted area. The area has rich soil and bright Therefore the documentation of the traditional therapeutic know- sunlight, and important natural resources which are abundantly how could lead to the discovery of new drugs as well as contribute available in this region and responsible for the development of rich to the conservation, sustainable management and use of plant vegetation having variable medicinal properties [14]. resources. Ethnobotanical investigations have been reported for parts of Northern Province of Sri Lanka but no investigation has Geographical coordinates: 9°47'0" North, 79°57'0" East [14] ever been carried out in Sillalai, Jaffna. It is therefore necessary to Geographical location: Northern, Sri Lanka, Asia [14] carry out a survey to document the plants used for medicinal Original name: Sillalai (figure. 1, 2) purposes in Sillalai, Jaffna. In Sillalai mostly peasant farmers who grow vegetables, rice and betel as cash crops and some deal with fishing also.

Fig 1: Location of Sillalai, Jaffna in Sri Lanka [14]

Fig 2: Location of Sillalai, Jaffna in Sri Lanka [14]

2.2 Data collection other station for various reasons therefore Traditional Medical In order to assess the consumption of indigenous medicinal plants, Practitioners (TMP's) generations were the main informants in the survey was carried out during the year, 2012 in the areas of Sillalai, survey. The information on medicinal uses of the indigenous plants Jaffna district in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. To get maximum has been described after gathering it from local people, experienced information the survey was widened diagonally during the aged rural folk, traditional herbal medicine practitioners, local following rainy season. herbal drug sellers and the information collected from the available Sillalai have so many famous Traditional Medical Practitioners in literature. A total of 215 inhabitants were interviewed. Randomly twenty years ago. Their families and generations are displaced to people were selected of which 110 men and 105 women of age 35

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and above were interviewed in their local language, that is, Tamil. from the root (Patricia et al., 2006). (Sankaranarayanan, In addition, direct plant observation and identification was done 2008) with the help of local healers known as ‘Maruthuvar’. Author also as a Doctor and have enough knowledge about medicinal plants in The total number of medicinal plants followed by trees (22.7%), Sri Lanka. Plants recorded in the results were mentioned by at least (19.7%), and climbers making up the remaining 15%. The two TMP's as treating the same disease in order to confirm its use. leaves were the most commonly used plant part followed by the Fertile specimens of the plants were collected in the field using aerial parts of herbs (30.7%), Creepers-7.3%, Cacti-1.3%, Aquatic standard botanic methods [31]. Together with the TMP's. The plants -2.3% and parasitic plants- 1% collected specimens were identified at the National Herbarium in Whole plant -31%, Root - 37.7%, Leaves-53.7%, Seed-14%, Fruit- Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and voucher 15.7%, Bark-6.7%, Bulb-1%, Stem-0.7%, Oil-3.3%, Salt-1%, specimens were deposited at the herbarium of the Royal Botanic -3%, Latex-1.7%, Tuber-5.3% and Rhizome-2.3% were Garden, Sri Lanka. Voucher specimen numbers along with other plant parts used in medical preparations. details are given in and the collected data contains the list of plants Many plants have multiple medicinal uses and many diseases are of different families with their traditional uses, plant parts used and treated using a combination of more than one plant. Decoctions their mode of administration which are listed in alphabetical order. were the most common method of preparation and most of the medicines are administered orally with topical administration in the 3. Results & Discussion case of skin diseases or wounds. A total of 300 medicinal plant species from 27 families 60 rare Medicinal plants were harvested from the wild, from farms and medicinal plants and 01 first identified Medicinal plant in Sri fallows and some home gardens. From the list of medicinal plants, Lanka used for treating most of all health problems were identified 27.3% are cultivated exclusively for medicinal purposes and in the survey. The most represented plant family in the list of domesticated crops and fruits from farms, fallows or grown in medicinal plants is the Leguminosae with 29.6% of the medicinal compounds (table 3), 52.7% are collected entirely from the wild, plants species followed by Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae and 20% are rare medicinal plants and 0.3% (only 01 plant) was Moraceae with 18.5% each. identified firstly in Sri Lanka. All of these are medicinal plants. From the responses to the questionnaire, it was provided that Identified plants Families are: , Amaranthaceae, medicinal preparations offered for sale are made by infusion, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, decoction, tincture, macerations, poultices, concoction, powder and Burseraceae, Caricaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, pastes for internally or externally. Treatment recipes for some of Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Lythraceae, Malvaceae, Meliaceae, the common ailments which affect people in the Sillalai, Jaffna are Menispermaceae, Mimosaceae, Moraceae, Nyctaginaceae, presented below: Papaveraceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae,

Verbenaceae, and Zingiberaceae. 1. Abutilon indicum Don. Sweet (SI/J/NP/SL/mal/002) Major chemical constituents for few medicinal plants as follows The juice of the plant is used for blood dysentery, fever, 1. Abutilon indicum Don. Sweet (SI/J/NP/SL/mal/002) and allergy. Fried leaves are used as a remedy for Malvaceae Thuthi Alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, jaundice, piles, ulcer and leprosy. triterpenoids, glycosides and water soluble galactomannan 2. Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. (SI/J/NP/SL/ari/001) have been isolated from leaves, stem, root bark and seeds The root powder is combined with honey and is given (Vandana Sii et al., 1997). internally given in the case of syphilis, gonorrhea, boils, 2. Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. (SI/J/NP/SL/ari/001) foul ulcers and other skin diseases. The bruised leaf is Aristolochiaceae Atuthendapalai Aristolochin, mixed with castor oil and is applied externally, in aristolochic acid alkaloids extracted from leaves. obstinate cases of eczema, to children’s legs. 3. Atalantia monophylla Corr. (SI/J/NP/SL/rut/001) Rutaceae 3. Atalantia monophylla Corr. (SI/J/NP/SL/rut/001) Kattu elemitchai Atalaphylline and Atalaphyllinine The leaves are boiled with water externally and used for alkaloids extracted from the root bark (Gururaj et al., rheumatoid pain and glandular swelling. The essential oil 1981). Limonoids, atalantin and the others, of the fruit is used for joint pain. dehydroatalantin and cycloepiatalantin were obtained by 4. Abrus precatorius Linn. (SI/J/NP/SL/fab/001) Dreyer et al. (1976). The decoction of roots has been used as a folk medicine 4. Abrus precatorius Linn. (SI/J/NP/SL/fab/001) Fabaceae for diuresis and the relief of fever, sore throat, bronchitis Kuntrimani Toxic lectin and abrin agglutinin from the and hepatitis. seeds and two triterpenoid saponins 1 and 2 were isolated 5. Asparagus racemosus Wild (SI/J/NP/SL/lil/003) from the aerial parts of the plant (Albert et al., 2001; The decoction obtained from the root has been used to Anam, 2001). The sweet-tasting oleanane glycoside, cure blood diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, cough, glycyrrhizin and cycloartane glycosides, namely bronchitis and general debility. The root is boiled with abrusosides A-E were extracted from it leaves (Choi et al., cow milk used for increasing milk secretion during 1989). Two new alkaloids methyl ester of N, N- lactation. dimethyltryptophan etho cation and precatorine and 6. Achyranthes aspera Linn. addition, hypaphorine, choline and trigonelline were The young shoots of the plant are fried with the bulb of isolated from the seeds (Ghosal & Dutta, 1971). Allium sativum and are used along with sesame oil 5. Asparagus racemosus Wild (SI/J/NP/SL/lil/003) Liliaceae, internally in the case of dog bites and other poisonous Tthaneervittan kilangu, Asparinins, asparosides, cases. Burned root ashes are applied on the teeth which curillins, curillosides and shavatarins have been isolated are infected with worms for reducing pain and as well as

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to expel the dead worms out. The juice extracted from the smooth muscles. It is also used as an antipruritic in skin leaf is used to treat primary infection of tuberculosis. rashes and for the treatment of sore throat, dermatitis and 7. Borreria verticillata (L.) G.F.W. Meyer. haemorrhoids. The tea forms of the root decoction are used in the 18. Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. treatment of leucorrhoea and gonorrhea [44]. The whole plant extracts are used to treat brain disorders 8. Barleria prionitis. Linn. like insanity, epilepsy, memory enhancement and nervous The juice of the leaf is used to treat cataract and fever. The debility. The strong decoction is internally used in the dried bark is used in cough treatment and the leaves are case of intermittent fever. chewed to relieve toothache. The paste of the root is 19. Elytraria acaulis Linn. applied to disperse boils and glandular swellings. Leaves The whole plant is internally and as well as externally are also used by some tribal communities for treatment of used in the case of deworming. piles and to control irritation and stiffness of limbs, 20. Enicostemma littorale Blume enlargement of scrotum and sciatica. The decoctions attained from the leaves are used in 9. Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. rheumatism, abdominal ulcers, hernia, swelling, itches and The decoctions of roots are used for the treatment of insect poisoning. dyspepsia, jaundice, enlargement of spleen, abdominal 21. Euphorbia hirta L. pain and as an anti-stress agent. The decoction of the and fruits are used in the 10. Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. treatment of asthma and respiratory tract infections and The juice of the leaves is used as an alternative and bitter sometimes the extracts are combined with bronchial tonic. The decoction of the root is slightly aromatic and sedatives. The latex is externally applied for wounds. astringent and is used as a demulcent in gonorrhea. It is 22. Garcinia indica (Thouars) Chois also given to children during convalescence of measles. The aerial extract has been used as a pink and purple food The fresh juice of the leaves is used to treat mental tension colouring agent and as well as a spice to give a sour and and mental disturbance. sweet taste. In addition to food usage, it has also been 11. Coleus aromaticus Benth. used as a cosmetic ingredient, inflammation and other The leaf juice is used for the treatment of headache, fever, disorders. epilepsy and dyspepsia. The decoction of the leaves is 23. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. administered in the case of chronic cough and asthma. The soaked petal along with coconut oil is externally 12. Cissampelos pareira Linn. applied for alopecia. The leaves and flowers are observed The paste of the root is used as an external application and to be promoters of hair growth and it aids in healing of has the property of wound healing, antidote, fistula, ulcers. pruritis, skin disorders and snake poison. Internally roots 24. Helicteres isora Linn. are useful in the case of anorexia, indigestion, abdominal The decoction of the root is mixed with turmeric powder pain, gastric disorders, diarrhoea and dysentery. and is applied externally to treat cuts and wounds. The Traditionally the plant used for blood purification and fruit is boiled with sesame oil, cooled and then the filtered anti-inflammatory properties. oil (2 to 3 drops) is poured into the ear for antalgesic 13. Calophyllum inophyllum Linn. disease. The oil of the seeds and roots are beneficial in the 25. Ixora coccinea Linn. treatment of wounds and scabies. The plant is also The decoction yielded from the flowers is used in the recommended in leprous nephritis. treatment of dysentery, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, 14. Cadaba fruticosa (L.) Druce. haemoptysis, bronchitis and scabies. The leaf juice is internally used in the case of general 26. Indigofera aspalathoides Vahl. weakness and energetic during dysentery and diarrohea The roots soak with coconut oil and they used for chronic and also to relieve general body pain, antidote against eczema, acute tumour, psoriasis. Root is chewed for poisoning, stimulant, and antiscorbutic. toothache and abscess. 15. Cleome gynandra Linn. 27. Melothria maderaspatana (L.) Cogn. A decoction or infusion of boiled leaves and/or roots has The leaf juices are used to treat asthma and allergic. Root been administered to facilitate childbirth. Bruised leaves, extract combined with Cuminum cyminum is used treat which are rubefacient and vesicant, are also used to treat spermatorrhea. neuralgia, rheumatism and other localized pains. Sap from 28. Mimosa pudica L. leaves has been used as an analgesic particularly for head The leaves extracts are used in the treatment of headache, ache, epileptic fits and ear ache. migraine, insomnia, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, piles and 16. Cynodon dactylon Dc. fistula. The leaf and stem has been used in the treatment The juices obtained from leaf are internally useful in blood of scorpion sting. Root popularly used against cobra bite vomiting. Externally the plant is applied on chronic by snake charmers and Bejs. Root powder combine with wounds. cow milk used for aphrodisiac. 17. Dodonaea viscose Roxb. 29. Mucuna pruriens L. DC. The stem and roots are used for the treatment of The dried seed is boiled with cow milk, and then the seed rheumatism, skin infections and diarrhoea. The plant is dried in sunshade, after which the seed is powdered and decoction is useful in the case of pains of hepatic or combined with cow milk which is effective in treating splenic origin, uterine colic and other disorders involving male sterility and nervous diseases.

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30. Oroxylum indicum Linn. inflammations and rheumatism. The leaves were also used Its seeds decoction have been used as an analgesic, as a cure for several illnesses including tumors, antitussive and anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment inflammations, conjunctivitis and tuberculosis. of cough and bronchitis. 44. Zingiber officinale. Roscoe 31. Phyllanthus niruri Linn. The fresh juice taken from ginger is internally useful in Two new securinega-type alkaloids, isobubbialine, the case of indigestion and liver diseases. Dried ginger is epibubbialine and as well as the three known alkaloids, boiled with palm sugar candy and is internally useful in phyllanthine, securinine and norsecurininewere isolated the case of chronic cough and cold. (Sankaranarayanan, from the leaves. 2008) 32. Piper betle Linn. Betel leaves are used for chewing and are credited with First identified Medicinal Plant in Sillalai, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. many medicinal properties such as digestive, stimulative, carminative and aphrodisiac. The fresh leaves immersed Botanical Name: Peristrophe Paniculata (Forssk) Brummitt. with sesame oil, then warmed with flame is applied for Family: Acanthaceae head ache and lactogogue. Common Name: 33. Pandanus amaryllifolius Linn. Tamil: Naganandha Tender shoots are directly eaten in the case of severe Sinhala: unknown jaundice. The oil obtained from the leaf is described as English: Panicled Peristrophe. stimulant and antispasmodic and is effective against Synonyms: Dianthera bicalyculata Retz. headaches, rheumatism, and epilepsy and as a cure for Dianthera malabarica L. f sore throats. Dianthera paniculata Forssk. 34. Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz paniculata (Forssk) I. Darbysh. The root powder is combined with lime juice and is Justicia bicalyculata (Retz) Vahl. applied for ring worm and skin diseases. The leaf extract Justicia ligulata Lam. is externally used for chronic wounds. Justicia malabarica (l.f) W.T. Aiton. 35. Scoparia dulcis Linn. Peristrophe doriae A. terracc. The leaf extract is used to treat respiratory, gastric and Peristrophe kotschyana Nees. hepatic disturbances diabetes and hypertension. Status: Native. 36. Sida cordifolia Linn. The leaves are used in for the treatment of stomatitis, Description: Annual herb, up to 35-120 cm tall or more; Stems blenorrhea, asthmatic bronchitis, and nasal congestion erect to spreading, sharply 06 angled, sparsely to densely hairy (Balbach, 1978). The roots possess diuretic and tonic with up to 02 mm Long spreading hairs. properties and administered for nervous disorders such as Leaves on 01-1.7 cm long petioles; Lamina Ovate – elliptic to hemiplegia and facial paralysis. lanceolate, 04-06 X 1.5-04 cm, densely lanceolate, Leaf – blades 37. Solanum nigrum Linn. narrowly Ovate with prominent veins, pubescent especially on The juice taken from fresh leaves are used to treat for nerves beneath, basally round to acute, acute to acuminate at the stomach ulcer. apex. 38. Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers. Primary inflorescences arranged in lax axillary Cymes spread The whole plant has been claimed to cure diseases of along the Stems, the entire plant looking like a lax inflorescence; kidney, liver, spleen, heart and blood. leaves of the apex of the branches, upper most ones narrowly 39. Tylophora indica Linn. triangular – subulate with a thin White margin 04-05 X 0.5 mm. Root decoction is internally used in the case of asthma and Flowers Solitary, Corolla tubular 12-14 mm long, tube ± 5 mm expectorant. Leaves decoction are internally used as an long, two lipped, lips up to 07 mm long, Purple in Colour, Lower antidote to poison. lip larger, with two Stamens attached, throat White with dark 40. Thespesia populanea Cav. Purple markings; bracts 02, linear spathulate, much unequal, 07-15 The decoction of the bark is commonly used for the mm long, acute; bracteoles in 02 valvate pairs, unequal – sub treatment of skin and liver diseases. Oil of the bark mixed equal, scarious on margins, acute. with vegetable oil is useful in urethritis and gonorrhea, the Calyx lobes linear, 3.5-04 mm long, hairy, acute valvate. Corolla bark and root, decoction used in dysentery, cholera and tube cylindrical, 04-05 mm long, lips sub equal, puberulous; upper haemorrhoids. lip elliptic Oblong, 05-07 mm long, entire or notched; lower lip 41. Trichodesma indicum R. Br. slightly longer than upper, deflexed, slightly crested with 03 acute The whole plant is used as emollient and diuretic. The lobes. Staminal filaments 05 mm long, hairy; Ovary oblong, roots were used in the treatment of dysentery, cough, cold, apically pubescent; Style -1 cm long. Capsule ellipsoid, 01-1.2 cm fever and joint pain. long, basally solid and hairy, acuminate. 42. Tribulus terrestris Linn. Seeds Orbicular, 02-05 mm across; with shortly stalked minutely The fruit decoction is combined with Crataeva magna papillate concentrated to the edge. stem bark internally used in the case of urinary infection and kidney stone disorder. Distribution: First identified in SILLALAI areas, Jaffna, 43. Withania somnifera L. Dunal District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The root powder boiled with cow milk is internally used Flowering Season: Flowers flowering on March to April. for adenopathy, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, Seed producing on: April to May.

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Plant disappeared: Plant going to disappearing on May month. Sinhala Name: Mediyavel Plant identified on: February of 2012 Identified by: Dr. S.R. Pholtan Rajeev. (B.S.M.S) Scandent, softly pubescent, sometimes hairy, rarely globate, Confirmed by: Dr. D.S. Wijesundara. Director General, National tendrils long, slender, forked. Leaves 7-11 foliolate. The lateral Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. leaflets pedately arranged, common petioles 5-7.5 cm long, hairy or glabrate, leaflets 5-12.5 by 2.5-6.3 cm. Oblong-lanceolate, Few plants details among the Identified Rare Plants acuminate, serrate, pubescent, or glabrous often oblique at the base Botanical Name: Dioscorea pentaphylla petioles variable in length, those of the terminal leaflets usually Family Name: Dioscoreaceae much longer than those of the lateral ones. Flowers bisexual, white Tamil Name: Kattukilangu, Allalkilangu in axillary divaricate shortly pedunculate corymbose cyme. Calyx shallow & lobed. Lobed triangular. Petals 4 (rarely 5) triangular. A tall, slender, prickly, climber with stems twining to the left. Calyptrate deciduous cohering at the apex. Disk large, cup shaped, Leaves alternate, 3-5 foliate. Bulbils globose or cylindrical, usually exceeding the ovary. Berry about the size of a pea. Subglobase or plentiful. Tubers almost invariably single, texture and shape often 4 lobed, 2-4 seeded cream coloured when ripe. Seed’s variable, skin brown, yellow or purplish, flesh, firm in ovoid tubers hemispheric, smooth with a deep circular pit closed by a thin covered with bristly roots and soft in elongated tubers with few membrane on the flat lower face [44]. roots, pale cream or lemon yellow with purple flecks. The first includes varieties with soft, esculent tubers borne close to Botanical Name: Capparis sepiaria Linn. the surface of the soil, the second with tubers, deeply buried, and Family Name: Capparidaceae Tamil Name: Shenkaththari the third yielding hard tubers, nauseous and unpleasant to eat. As the species includes both poisonous and innocuous forms, It is a much-branched, armed or woody climber, with oblong, tubers should be consumed only after repeated boiling and elliptic or obovate leaves, white flowers, and globose deep purple, washing. The nutritive value of edible tubers is nearly the same as fleshy edible berry occurring sparsely in the dry region as Sillalai that of Dioscorea alata Analysis of tubers of different races gave in Jaffna district. The plant is parasitic by Cassytha filiformis. The the following values (on dry matter basis) albuminoids, 8.68-15.93, plant is credited with Anti pyretic & Antiseptic properties. It is ash, 4.91-7.32, fat, 0.72-1.35, Carbohydrates, 71.07-80.77, fibre, useful in skin diseases. The juice of inner bark of the root is used [44] 2.22-7.96, and P2O5 0.44-0.73%. The flowers are often collected for scabies & eczema . and used as vegetable. Leaves are also eaten in times of scarcity. Constituents: Glycosides, Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, Amino acids, Tubers are used to disperse swelling and as tonic. The alkaloid, Phenolic acid[44]. dioscorin, and the saponin, dioscin, occur in varying quantities in Botanical name: Plecospermum spinosum Linn. different species of yams Dioscorin (C13H19O2N) is abundant in Dioscorea hispida and its tubers when consumed in large enough Family name: Moraceae quantities cause paralysis of the respiratory organs and even and Tamil name: Elumullukkodi English name: Axils pined mulberry are used for washing silk, wool and hair, and as fish poison. It used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever [44]. A large straggling, thorny shrub or small tree. Found in eastern

Botanical Name: Cassytha filiformis Linn. Himalayas & Deccan peninsula up to an altitude of 1200 m. Family Name: Cassythaceae Records of its occurrence in the sub Himalayan tracts of Punjab & English Name: Love-Vine Uttar Pradesh lack confirmation. Bark orange-brawn. Pedaling off Tamil Name: Erumaikoththan in thin flakes. Leaves obovate or elliptic oblong. Flowers in heads, small, dioecious, fruiting heads fleshy. Lobed 1.25 cm in diam. A herbaceous, Parasitic, leafless twiner. Commonly seen at Sillalai. The plant is found in open places and as hedges. It has a slow rate Stem yellowish green, slender, forming a web of leafless cords, of growth with a mean annuas girth increment of 1.3 cm. The flowers small, white, in lax or dense lateral spikes, drupes black, sapwood is grayish, heartwood small, orange yellow. Containing globose, enclosed in fleshy perianth lobes. yellow resinous matter. Very hard & heavy. The plant, which is a widespread pest, in found parasitizing a large The wood is reported to be suitable for tool handles & ornamental number of plants and commonly foams festoons of long, pale cabinet work & is good fuel. Bark & wood have been reported to green, slender thread- like sets hugging from the hosts. It clings to be used in Darjeeling Terai for dying silk yellow [44]. the host by means of saucer-shaped; profusely branching appears masking the host plant entirely. The fruits are eaten. The plant is Botanical Name: Hugonia mystax used for seasoning buttermilk in south India. The plant is reputed in Family Name: Linaceae the indigenous system of medicine as an astringent and diuretic. It English Name: Climbing flax is given in biliousness and chromic dysentery. A decoction of the Tamil Name: Mothitakkanni plant prevents haemoptysis. Sinhala Name: Bugettiya

The plant possesses pesticidal and insecticidal properties, and in A rambling, scandent shrub. With yellow tomentose branches and [44] used to wash hair kill vermin . short, horizontal branchlets which are leafless below and provided Constituents - Neolitsine, Dicentrine, Cassythidine, Launobine, near the ends with a pair of circin ate hooks, leaves simple, alternate Bulbocapnine, O-methyl – Caassyfiline, actinodaphne, assythicine, stipulate, 3.8-6.3 cm long, 2.5-3.8 cm broad, elliptic-obovate, [44] Cassythicine, Nantenine, Laurotetanine . obtuse or subacute, entire, reticulately veined, veins conspicuous

Botanical Name: Vitis pedata Linn. on both sides, glabrous, base tapering; petioles 1.5 cm long, hairy, Family Name: Vitaceae stipules lanceolate; flowers regular, bisexual, yellow in colour; Tamil Name: Mulladinayakan fruit a globase drupe about 1 cm diam. Surrounded by persistent sepals.

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Uses: The bruised roots are used externally to reduce inflammatory coconut oil is combined with some medicinally important plant swellings and as an antidote to snake-bite poisoning. Internally they leaves like W. tinctoria, C. alata, H. rosa-sinensis and C. act as an anthelmintic and febrifuge [44]. inophyllum for treatment of skin diseases [35]. Medicinal preparations attained from either a part of a single plant Botanical Name – Scutia myrtina or a single whole plant such as B. diffusa, B. prinotis, C. fruticosa, Family Name – Rhamnaceae E. alsinoides, E. acaulis and E. littorale are used in the treatment Tamil Name – Thudari of jaundice, indigestion, fever, general weakness and deworming of A climbing straggling shrub armed with sub-opposite recurved intestine. Aloe vera is used to treat malaria, gastritis, stomach ache, prickles found in the Jaffna peninsula from Mathagal and in wounds and skin diseases. Roots of Aristolochia bracteolata, Sillalai. Asparagus racemosus, Withania somnifera are used to treat male Leaves elliptic obovate or crenate, coriaceaus flowers small white sterility, syphilis and gonorrhea. The leaves, roots and flowers of in axillary umbles; berries globose, smooth, white or black. Fruit is Clerodendrum phlomidis, Helicteres isora, Melothria considered astringent and is eaten. In India the leaf is said to be maderaspatana are used to treat spermatorrhea, indigestion, used in ointment locally applied to hasten parturition [44]. analgesic diseases and also in wound healing.

4. Discussion Medicinal plants play an important role in providing knowledge to More plants from the family Legominaceae are used for medicinal the researchers in the field of ethno botany and ethno purposes compared to any other plant family in Sillalai, Jaffna pharmacology. The observations of present study showed that because they contain a wide range of biologically active traditional medicine plays a significant role among the local people compounds and also because being one of the largest families in the of Sillalai, Jaffna. Besides this, in other districts of Northern plant kingdom, a large number of plants belong to this family. The Province, practitioners are practicing the traditional system of popularity of herbs in traditional medicine has been linked to their medicine namely Siddha and Ayurveda. higher likelihood of containing pharmacologically active compounds compared to woody plant forms. This may explain the In Sillalai, Jaffna, the traditional medicinal system is very efficient, use of many herbs in the traditional medicinal practice in Sillalai, supportive and successful in treating Skin disorders, pediatrics and Jaffna. Leaves of plants have been reported to accumulate, inulins, rheumatism. On interviewing, six local traditional healers of tannins and other alkaloids which may be responsible for their Sillalai, Jaffna informed that the young tender shoots of Pandanus medicinal properties, explaining its wide use. Other studies spp. along with over-night soaked boiled rice water is given to reported the leaves as the most widely used plant parts. patients in early morning who suffer from severe jaundice for Different types of preparation made from medicinally important curative purpose because the leaves of Pandanus spp. are a natural plants included decoction, juice, powder, paste, oil and whole plant antioxidant and Pandanus extracts are capable of retarding extract. Some plants were even used in more than one form of oxidation [10]. The leaves of the plant Phyllanthus niruri is preparations. Majority of the plant preparation were in the form of combined with white goat milk and taken with empty stomach in decoction obtained from the roots, seeds, stem, leaves and flowers three doses for effective treatment of severe jaundice and liver of Abrus precatorius, Ixora coccinea, Dodonaea viscose Asparagus diseases and it also enhances the appetite [3]. In recent research, this racemosus, Oroxylum indicum, Boerhaavia diffusa, Borreria plant has gained world - wide attention due to its effectiveness verticillata, H. isora, C. phlomidis, Cleome gynandra, against Hepatitis B [45]. In the modern research, this plant is found Enicostemma littorale and Euphorbia hirta. Preparations in the to contain an antiviral activity extended to the human form of Juices were attained from the leaves of Abutilon indicum, immunodeficiency virus [11]. Barleria prionitis, Coleus aromaticus, Cadaba fruticosa and Melothria maderaspatana. Powder preparations were made from Data collected from the Sillalai, Jaffna district were compared with the roots, leaves and fruits of Aristolochia bracteolata, Mimosa available data in other districts of Northern Province like pudica, Rhinacanthus nasutus and Withania somnifera. Mullaitivu and Vavuniya. An interesting observation was that some The roots and leaves of Acalypha indica and Cassia alata yielded medicinally important plants such as Achyranthes aspera, Mukia paste formation. Indigofera asphalathoides, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, maderaspatana, A. indica, Abrus precatorius, H. rosa-sinensis, Wrightia tinctoria, Atalantia monophylla and Calophyllum Mimosa pudica, B. diffusa and Solanum nigrum were found to be inophyllum plants were used for oil formation. The whole plant practiced as important medicinal plants in other district for the extracts resulted from plants like Evolvulus alsinoides, Elytraria treatment of various diseases like dog bites, skin diseases, cold, acaulis, Limnophila indica, Trichodesma indicum and C. gynandra. fever, deworming, wounds and hydrocele. Apart from this, The leaves and roots are the two major plant parts which are medicinal plants like E. alsinoides, Helicteres isora and Ocimum frequently used for the treatment of diseases by the local people of basilicum are practiced among the tribal of Sillalai for their Sillalai, Jaffna. External applications prepared from medicinal medicinal value to treat venereal diseases, fever and cold and also plants are used to cure many diseases like skin diseases, wounds, as a hair growth promoter. rheumatism, poisonous bites and dandruff. Oral consumption Most young people are not interested in traditional medical practice involves curing fever, cold, cough, diarrohea, jaundice and because it is less profitable compared to growing cash crops. The indigestion. The local people of the Sillalai, Jaffna prescribed the influence of western culture, rural-urban migration in search for medicinally important plants either as single or as in combination better educational and job opportunities and the commonly held with several plants to cure suffering of the people from illness. The view by young people that traditional medicine is superstitious and local people preferred preparing medicines by combining several something for the poor and uneducated may result to a loss of this plant parts, since the combination rapidly cures the diseases and rich and useful knowledge which has accumulated over several also enhances the immunity power of the patients. For example, generations.

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5. Conclusions Northern Province, Sri Lanka. There is always a hunt for rich ethno botanical knowledge for ethno botanical studies of medicinal plants. Further, this research has 6. Acknowledgements placed on records the local uses of medicinally important plants I wish to thank the Traditional Medical Practitioners and Public in which were interviewed among 215 local people of Sillalai, Jaffna Sillalai, Jaffna for serving as key informants for this study. I am district. The traditional healers are the main source of knowledge also grateful thanks for the contribution made by Dr. D.S. on medicinal plants. In Sillalai, Jaffna district, many local people Wijesundara. Director General, National Botanical Garden, are going for agriculture and sustainable harvesting of plants with Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, who taxonomically identified and medicinal value which helps not only in conservation of these confirmed first plant in Sri Lanka from Sillalai. My thanks also go traditional medicinally important plants but also in marketing of to Dr. (Mrs.) Vivian Sathiyaseelan, senior Lecturer, Materia these plants and their products for economic growth of the people. Medica section, unit of Siddha Medicine, University of Jaffna. Finally, to conclude, this research article will attract the attention of ethno botanists, phyto-chemists and pharmacologists for further 7. Appendix critical investigation of medicinal plants present in the districts of

Peristrophe paniculata (Forssk) Brummitt. First identified in SILLALAI areas, Jaffna District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka.

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